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Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport recently hosted an unusual visitor from United Airlines, a carrier not typically associated with the Arizona hub. On March 11, 2025, United's Boeing 777-300ER, registered as N2332U, landed on Phoenix's shortest runway. The aircraft was ferried empty from San Francisco to transport the Chicago Cubs to Tokyo for a series.
United does not have a hub in Phoenix and rarely operates its widebody aircraft there. However, the visit made sense due to the Cubs' need for transportation from their spring training location in Arizona to Japan. The team chartered the aircraft for their journey to Tokyo Dome, where they would open their season against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The flight path of the 777-300ER took it over several states before landing in Phoenix. Despite its size, landing on Runway 25L was feasible because the aircraft was empty and required less runway length. After picking up the Cubs, the plane departed for Tokyo Haneda Airport, arriving after a 12-hour journey across the Pacific Ocean.
